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Frank Gore hasn’t just kept tabs through the years on the running backs drafted ahead of him in 2005. He also remembers all the backs that were viewed as comprising the second tier after top-five picks Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson and Cadillac Williams. Eric Shelton was selected 11 spots ahead of Frank Gore in the […]
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Xavier Omon Last week, when I spoke with 49ers running back Xavier Omon for this story, he told me he never knew his biological father growing up. Then, he said something interesting. He explained that he knew something about his dad he couldn’t tell me, but I’d find out the secret soon enough. As it […]
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A few questions that may (or may not) be answered in the 49ers’ final preaseason game Thursday in San Diego: 1. Is the offensive line really that awful? It’s not possible. Right? Well, last week’s performance against the Texans didn’t exactly inspire many reasons for optimism. Houston brought plenty of pressure without blitzing and, equally […]
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SFGate Frank Gore is under contract with the 49ers through 2014. UPDATE: Gore’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has confirmed the contract details. The deal is expected to be finalized Wednesday. Gore is expected to address the media once a deal is officially in place. Frank Gore didn’t get DeAngelo Williams money, but he evidently got the […]
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Michael Crabtree is back at practice, but he and Jim Harbaugh aren’t talking much about his return. The NFL, however, has spoken on whether Crabtree did, in fact, return to practice a day too soon and has cleared the 49ers of any wrongdoing. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the team will not face any discipline […]
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Michael Crabtree is now, officially, physically able to perform. But he’s performing at half-speed. And he’s not performing for very long. About 20 minutes after the 49ers announced Crabtree had been removed from the PUP list late this morning, the third-year wide receiver stepped on the practice field.
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A look at the other six players the 49ers cut today: WR Kevin Jurovich: A month ago, I wouldn’t have believed Jurovich would have been among the first cuts. After spending 2010 on the practice squad, the bulked-up wideout appeared ready to take the next logical step this season. He was joined at Alex Smith’s […]
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The Niners have parted ways with linebacker Scott McKillop. For real this time. Eighteen days after McKillop was erroneously listed as being cut by the 49ers on NFL.com, one of the team’s fifth-round picks in the 2009 draft was the most notable among seven players San Francisco released today. The 49ers also cut wide receivers […]
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-Delanie Walker made things happen while covering punts and kickoffs. -Mike Iupati and Joe Staley had a breakdown with the second sack. Iupati hit the defensive tackle on the inside and by the time he popped to the outside, Antonio Smith was by him. However, if Smith did not sack him, Mario Williams would have. […]
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The 49ers completely forgettable and regrettable summer just got more weird. Injured wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who is still on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from foot surgery, caught a few passes from Alex Smith in warm ups. Crabtree wearing shorts instead of a uniform caught a few 5-yard throws with his […]
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Brant Ward/The Chronicle QB Alex Smith feels the Texans heat. The offensive line watched film of their atrocious performance on Saturday night against the Texans, and put the linemen in poor humor in the locker room on Monday. Some say it never looks as bad on film as it does live, but that was not […]
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AP Alex Smith had a 2.8 QB rating against the Texans, who sacked him twice and pressured him on three other occasions. In the aftermath of the 49ers’ 30-7 loss to the Texans on Saturday night, Jim Harbaugh offered this today: “(I’m) not as discouraged with the defense.” Using some deductive reasoning, I’m concluding Harbaugh […]
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The protection issues against the Saints in the preseason opener could mostly be explained away (lockout, 12 practices, naughty New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams flouting preseason etiquette). But how to explain the Niners’ inability to keep their quarterbacks upright Saturday against the Texans? Were there communication problems up front? No, Jim Harbaugh said. The […]
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Frank Gore dressed but did not play in the game per orders from his head coach, Jim Harbaugh. Gore said he talked to Harbaugh early in the week and he decided Gore would not play. Gore hasn’t talked about whether he will play in Thursday’s preseason finale in San Diego. Gore did confirm that his […]
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There are times when the 49ers look like a sad little franchise and this is one of those times. They were clearly outplayed, they seem way behind the Texans in terms of preparation, and there not enough passion on the field to even inspire a fight in the stands. In fact, there are enough people […]
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New stream for the second half The 49ers first teams did not fare well at all. But the score wouldn’t be so one-sided had Jim Harbaugh taken a more traditional approach and played the staters uninterrupted throughout the first half. He might want to re-think that strategy. Alex Smith got hit twice more on the […]
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Greetings from Candlestick Park, where history will be made tonight: This is the first-ever preseason meeting between the 49ers and Texans! Some pre-game notes and musings, which I’ll be updating leading up until kickoff:
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What should fans, coaches, bloggers and other parties of interest look for defensively in the 49ers third exhibition against the visiting Texans? The short answer is plenty, the long answer is below. DEFENSIVE LINE: Someone needs to replace Demetric Evans in the d-line rotation. Fan favorite Demarcus Dobbs has produced with plenty of sacks and […]
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Here’s a run down of what to look for on offense Saturday night against the visiting Texans in the 49ers’ third exhibition. Coach Jim Harbaugh is going to emphasize evaluation in this game with the first cut looming on Tuesday. Typically, teams get prolonged looks at their starters in the third game. Harbaugh has chosen […]
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Frank Gore views himself being in the middle of his career and as the 49ers’ best offensive player. The 49ers may see Gore as a declining player coming off a hip fracture and with a history of ankle and knee injuries. Those two views are in deep conflict as the 49ers try to workout a […]
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AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez Anthony Dixon. Anthony Dixon always has something interesting to say. In this Q and A he talks about the nickname he earned in college, his baseball-playing brother, Rashaun (he’s an outfielder for the A’s A team in Stockton) and his new approach to the season. Dixon is also in much better shape. […]
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-Colin Kaepernick will get some work with the first team against the visiting Texans on Saturday night. -49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said the second- and possibly third teams will work against Houston’s first unit. -Harbaugh is taking a different approach in this third exhibition game, where starters typically play into the third quarter. Instead, Harbaugh […]
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